Weft-replenishing mechanism for looms



Aug. 7, 192a. 1,679,622

S. A. NELSON WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J7 105 1 9 J6 1/5 1 6 I 407' j 7' .L... I f M 4 SAMUELA NELSON I INVENTOR H vm Hwy ATTORNQ S s.A.NELsoN WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Aug. 7,1928. 1,679,622

Filed May 29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 111 MUN l JNVENTOR SAMUEL A NELS N V OEI IE ;S

AT T

Aug. 7, 192a. 1,679,622

S. A. NELSON w's'm' REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQF? SAMUEL A NELSON ATToRNEy Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL A. NELSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 CROMI TON & KNOWLES LOOM \VORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WEFT-REPLENISHING MECTIANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed May 29, 1926. Serial No. 112,642.

This invention'relates to automatic looms in which provision is made for replenishing any one of a series of shuttles which may carry different kinds or colors of weft. The inventionis more particularly designed for use in a so-called pick and pick loom in which a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes are provided at each end of the lay and in which any one of the shuttles may be put in action for a single pick or for a plurality ofpicks in accordance with the lay-out of the weaving pattern chain.

One general object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism by which a selected weft carrier may be transferred horizontally into a corresponding shuttle in any one of a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at the magazine end of the loom.

A further object isto provide mechanism bv operative position, thus securing a longer time interval in which to make the transfer.

Other features of my invention relate to the provision of an improved transfer-controlling mechanism, to the provision of novel and improved mechanism for selectively positioning the transferrer and for thereafter moving the transferrer with the magazine and shuttle boxes; to certain improvements in the pattern mechanism by which the weft replenishment is controlled, and to other arrangements and combinations of parts which. will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of portions of which such a transfer may take place during the shifting of the shuttle boxes to- Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the pattern mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same parts,

looking in the direction of the arrow 85in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 drop box and magazine controlling mechamsm;

10 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 10 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 11 in Fig. 10;

Fig.12 is a detail sectional side elevationof a portion of the magazine; and Fig. 13. is a detail, sectional plan View,

taken along the line 131 3 in Fig. l.

I General construction.

Referrim to the drawings, I have shown portions of a loom of the pickand pick type having a loom frame 20 with a magazine M ig. 1) and weft replenishing mechanism R mounted at the right hand end-of the loom andhaving dropboxes 21 mounted for vertical movement on a lifter rod 22, also at'the right hand end of the loom. The boxes 21 are carried by the lay 23, mounted upon the usual swingingsupports or swords 24, and actuated through links 25 and also for controlling the positions of the magazine and transfer mechanism.

The. magazine M (Fig. 2) is .provide,d with a series of superposed compartments 30, each having a rearward outlet or dis charge opening 31', and a transferrer 32is mounted for vertical movement into alignment with any selected discharge opening 31.

Mechanism is provided by which the transferrer is always positioned opposite the magazine compartment corresponding to the is a plan-view of a portion of the shuttle which is about to become active, and the pattern mechanism is so arranged that the selective movement of the transferrer takes place before the corresponding move ment of the drop boxes.

Additional mechanism is also provided for thereafter moving both the transferrer and magazine vertitally as the boxes are shifted, so that the magazine is in a position to transfer a bobbin to the shuttle during the movement of the shuttle boxes.

Magazine construction.

The weft carrier magazine, as previously stated, is of a special construction and as shown the drawings comprises three superposed compartments (Fig. formed in a magazine frame 33 and having a rearward discharge opening 81 from each magazine compartment. A light spring 34 (Fig. 12) yieldingly prevents rearward escape of the bobbins through each opening 31, except when forcibly ejected therefrom by the transferrer 32.

Each compartment is shown as providing storage for three weft carriers of a particular kind or color. As the loom shown in the drawings is particularly designed for use in weaving silk, a very much smaller storage capacity is permissible than would be required for weaving cotton or other material in which the bobbins are quickly exhausted and must be frequently replenished.

In the silk loom, the weft or filling is so fine that a bobbin or weft carrier will commonly run for several hours before it becomes exhausted and requires replenishment. 1

The magazine M is provided with a guideway36 (Fig. 4) at one end for the butts of the bobbins and with a narrower guide-way 37 at the opposite end for the tips of the bobbins. The magazine frame 83 is mounted in a support 40 (Fig. 2) secured to the upper end of a dove-tailed slide 41 (F ig. 3) mounted for vertical movement in guide-ways 42 in a stand 43 mounted in fixed position on the loom frame 20. A rack bar 44 is secured to the side of the member 41 and is engaged by a pinion 45 mounted on a stud 46 which is rotatably mounted in the upper end of a link 47. The lower end of the link 47 is pivoted to an arm 48' (Fig. 13) on a rock shaft 49 and is controlled from the pattern mechanism P by connections to be described.

'The stud 46 extends outward through a slot 50 in a cover creasing 43 which slot permits the stud and its pinion 45 to be moved freely vertically.

RcpZcns/tin-g mechanism.

I will now describe the replenishing mechanism by which the transferrer 32 is selec tively positioned and actuated to transfer a weft carrier from one of the magazine compartments to a substantially exhausted shuttle.

The transferrer 32 (Fig.4) is mounted on the in le 52 mo vable horizontally in guideiiays 523 secured to the upper end of a dose tailed support 11.4 (Figs 2 and 3) which is vertically slidable in guide-ways 55 in the stand 43 previously described.

A rack bar 56 is secured to one face of the sliding support 54 and is engaged by a pinion 57 mounted on a stud 58 extending outwardly through a slot 59 in the stand 43 and pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 60. The lower end of the link 60 (Figs. 1 and 13) is pivoted to a second arm 61 on the rocking member 49 previously described.

The arms and 61 ofthe member 49 are preferably of the same length, and the pinions 45 and 57 are of the same size, consequently movement of the member 49 will cause the transferrer 32 to move in one direction whiletlie magazine M moves in the opposite direction and for the same distance. in this manner, the transferrer may be quickly positioned opposite any selected magazine compartment.

The transferrer slide 52 (Fig. 4) is provided with a stud 6-3 extending to the left through an elongated vertical slot 64 (Fig. l) in an actuating head 65 The head 65 is mounted at the rear end of a slide or plunger 66' (Fig. supported in a bearing 67 formed on a fixed bracket 68. The plunger 66 has an axial recess 69 in which an actuating rod 70 is freely slidable.

The rod 70 is pivoted at Til to the upper end of a lever 72 pivoted on a bracket 73 and having it" lower end pivotally con-- nected at 4 to alink 75 (Fig. 1) which is connected at its rear on d to a lever 7 6 having a roll '77 engaged by a side; face groove in a cam 78. The cam 78 is mounted on the usual bottom shaft 79 of the loom, which i s one revolution for each two beats of .AS it may be necessary to operate the transferrer upon any beat of the lay, the cam 78 is provided with two actuating portions 80. disposed at opposite ends of a diameter of the cam. VVhenever any one of these autuating portions 80 engages the cam roll 77, the rod 70 is iven a quick rear ward movement in th recess 69 ofthe plunger or support 66.

In normal operation, this reciprocation of the actuating rod 70 is entirely idle and produces no result. I have provided means, however, for operatively connecting the rod 70 with the plunger66 to cause rearward transferring movement of the transferrer 32. For this purpose, a bearingsleeve 82 (Fig. 2) fixed in one side of the plunger 66 and projects downward througl'i a slot tit) llll) ill) hit)

tion.

83 in the bearing 67. This sleeve 82 prevents angular displacement of the plunger 66 and. also provides a bearing fora stud 84 having a head 85 at its upper'end. Recesses 86 are forinedin the upper part of the plunger 66 and in the upper part of the bearing 67, to permit the headed stud84 to be dropped into its. bearing sleeve 82. A coil spring 87 normally seats the stud 84 against the end of the s1eeve82, with the head depressed below the path of the actuating rod 70. The spring 87 isldisposed'between the lower endof. thesleeve 82' and a collar 88 secured on the stud 84. v T

A cap 90'at the upperend of a .rod 91 (Fig. 2) is positioned below thestud 84 when the latter isin normal forward posi The rod 91 is vertically 'slidableand is pivoted at 92 to a lever 93 mounted on a fixed pivot 94 and having a forwardly-projecting portion 95 (Fig. 1) pivoted at .96 to an arm 97 mounted on an indicating shaft or rod 98.

The shaft 98 extends across the front'of the loom to the left: hand side, where it may be selectively connected to suitable .actuating mechanism by weft detecting mechanism. of any suitable type, such asis indicatedin the prior application ofwGordon, Serial 'No. 83,859, filed Jan. 26,-19'26.- I

\Vhen the'weft detecting mechanism indicates substantial weft exhaustiomthe shaft 98 will be rocked, thus raising the rod 91 and the cap/90 against the lower endof: the stud 84, andprojecting'the studvupward into the path of the rod'70. When engaged by the rod, the stud will move rearward Wit the plunger 66. v i r i The rod 70 is provided with a shoulder-99 (Fig. 2) adapted to be engaged below the head 85 of the stud 84, thuspholding the stud in raised position until released by extreme forward movement of the rod 70. The cap 90 is threaded to the upper end. of therod 91, so that it may be vertically adjusted thereon, and a lock nut 100 is provided'for holding theeap in adjusted position. @A turn buckle 101 (Fig. 1) is provided'in the link 75 for adjusting the forward and rearward movement of the rod 70.

I have thus provided actuating means having a regular rearward movementfor every beat of the lay, and I haveprovided connectionscontrolled from the weft detecting mechanism by which the actuating means may be op'eratively. connected to the plunger 66 and transferrer 32.,;

ao ordinating mechanism. I have described mechanism for "bringing the discharge openingof a selected magazine compartment opposite the shuttle .tibOllttO become active, and mechanism for moving the transferrer to a similar position. These movements take place" before the movement of the'selected shuttle box to running posi- -tion, and it is'therefore necessaryto provide co-ordinating mechanism by which the magazine and transferrerwill be maintained in operative relation to the selected shuttle box during the movement of the box.

For this purpose I have pivoted a pinion 105- (Fig 3) on a stud 106 fixed in the stand 43.. The pinion is actuated by a rack bar 107 vertically slidable in the stand 43 and having a stud 108 pivoted'to the upper end of an actuating link 109. At its lower end,

the link 109 (Fig; 1) is pivoted to a rockis pivotally connected to the same stud 113 at the end of the arm on which the link 109 is pivoted. The drop boxes 21 and the rack bar 107 thus receive equal and simultaneous vertical movements, the movement of the rack'bar causing. correspond ing rotation of the pinion 105. v 'The pinion 105 engages rack teeth 115 on a rack member 116 vertically slidable in guide-ways in thest'and 43, and the member 116 is provided with rack teeth 117 engaging thepinion 45 previously described, and

also with rack teeth 118 engaging the pinion 57 previously described.

The positioning links 47 and 60 receive their operative movements before the coordinating link 109, so that the pinions 45 and57 are maintained in fixed vertical position-during thejmovement of the sliding raelcmembe r. 116, which therefore rotates the ipinions 45 and 57 and causes vertical movement ofthe supports 41 and; 54 for the magazine and transferrer, which moveinents are in the same direction and of equal amount to themovements' of the drop boxes I am thusable tobring the transferrer and any desired magazine compartment opv posite its associated shuttle box and to thereafter move the box, the magazine, and the transferrer simultaneously vertically to maintain their operative relation and to permit transfer ofthe weft carrier during movement of the shuttle box to running position. This provision for a longer time interval for transfer is extremely important.

Pattm mechanism."

I .will'now describe the pattern mechanism and connections by which the magazine, the transferrer, the weft detector, and

the shuttle boxes are selectively controlled and positioned.

particularly to Figs.

.1 Referring 5 to 11,

Hill

I have indicated pattern chains and 121 (Fig, 5) mounted on a pattern cylinder having a star wheel 122 secured to the end thereof and engaged by pins 123 on a: rotating actuating member 124. The member 124 makes one revolution for each beat of the lay and the pins 123 are diametrically opposed. The star wheel 122 is thus intermittently and successively advanced two spaces for each beat of the lay,

Pattern levers are engaged by the chains 120 and 121, and the sinkers and risers on the pattern chains are so distributed. that a change in position of the levers for the chain 120 will occur on certain advance movements of the star wheel, while a change in position of the remaining lovers will occur on the alternate advance movements of the star wheel. The first set of pattern levers controls the movements of the weft detector, the magazine and the transferrer,

i i 126 to vibrator levers 127, SllPPOIlllIlg vibrator gears 1.28 which may be raised or lowered to engage upper or lower cylinder gears 129 or 130, all, as usual. The vibrator gears 128 are connected by links 131 to the upwardly extending arms of hell cranks 132 and 133 mounted on a fixed pivot 134.

An outer pair of bell cranks 132 and 133, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, are connected by links 135 and 136 to a floating lever 137, connected by a link 138 to an arm 139 on a rock shaft 140. The rock shaft extends across the loom and at its opposite end is provided with an arm-141 (Fig. 1) connected by a link 142 (Fig. 13) to the rocking member 49 by which the magazine M and transferrer 32 are vertically positioned The second pair of bell cranks 132 and 133 are connected by links 145 and 146 (Fig. 6) to a floating lever 147 having a link 148 by which the vertical position of the weft detector, not shown, is varied in accordance with the position of the drop boxes and the selection of the running shuttle.

The third pair of bell cranks 132 and 133 are connected by forked links 150 and 151 (Fig. 6) to a floating lever 152 having a stud 153 at its front end. Two links 154 and 155 are pivoted on the stud 153, the link 154 raising and lowering the drop boxes in. the usual manner and the link 1555 being connected to maintain the weft detector in co-ordinate relation with the selected shuttle .box as the boxes are raised or lowered.

Slotted brackets 157 are engaged by pins 158 on the floating levers and cause the front ends of said levers to have a substantially straight line movement.

An arm 156' on the rock shaft 11.1 previously described, is connected at its front end to the stud153, thus transmitting the motion to the right hand side of the loom and causing the drop boxes at. both ends of the lay to be moved simultaneously, and also causing the magazine and transferrer to move with the drop boxes, as previously described.

The vibrator levers are necessarily looked as usual in raised or lowered position during the operation of the cylinder gears, and lock knives or bars 160 and Y161 (Fig. 10),

are provided for locking the vibrator levers;

As the levers connected with the weft detecting magazine move a step in advance of the levers which control the drop boxes, it is necessary to provide aseparate locking bar for each set of levers, and to operate these locking bars alternately.- A

Accordingly I have provided two cams 162- and 163 (Fig. 9) on the pattern cylinder shaft, these cams being set approximately 180 apart. Each cam is engaged by a cam roll164 on a rod. or. projection 165' connected to lock ng bars 160 and 161. Spring pressed rods 166 (Fig; 5-) force the locking bars forward to looking position.-

The relative timing of theftwo sets of pattern mechanism also requires" thatv the cylinder gears 129 and 130 have idle and driving portions arranged in alternate positions. A portion of the cylinder gear 130 is shown in Fig. 9, in: which it will'appear that the driving" teeth 170 for the drop boxes are positioned on one side of the gear, while the teeth 171 for the weft detector and transfer mechanism are disposed substantially in advance of the teeth 170.

General operation.

Having described the details of construction of my improved loom, the general operation is thought to be clearly apparent. The chains of the pattern mechanism P are constructed with risers and sinkers in the desired order to position the weft detector opposite the shuttle box at the left hand side of the loom which is about to become operated, while at the same time, the transferrer and magazine compartment corresponding to the same shuttle are moved to positions opposite the corresponding shuttle box at the right hand or magazine side of the loom. When weft exhaustion is indicated, the stud 84 is raised by the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 to a position for engagement by the actuating rod 7 0, the transferrer 52' being thereafter moved rearwardly to transfer a weft carrier from the magazine to the exhaustedshuttle.

During the transfer operation, the shuttle boxes may be raised. or lowered to bring the 55 selected compartment opposite a selected selected shuttle box to running position, but through the connections shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the selected magazine compartment and the transferrer are maintained in operative relation with the selected shuttle box, the transfer taking place while the boxis being moved to running position.

All parts of the mechanism are strongly and rigidly constructed and are well adapted to stand up under the severe conditions of loom operation. The movements are positive and the device is particularly effective for the purposes indicated.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. In an automatic loom having a layand a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having compartments for weft carriers of differentkinds, means to move a selected compartment opposite a'selected shuttle box, and means to thereafter move said compartment with said shuttle boxes as the selected box is moved to running position.

2. In an automatic loom having a lay and a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having a plurality of vertically disposed compartments for weft carriers of different kinds, means to move a selected compartment opposite a selected shuttle box, and means to thereafter move said compartment with said shuttle boxes as the selected box is moved to running position. I

3. In an automatic loom having a lay and a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having a plurality I of vertically dis osed compartmentsfor weft carriers of di erent kinds, pattern-controlled means to move a shuttle box, and pattern-controlled means to thereafter move said compartment with said shuttle boxes as the selected box is moved to running position.

5. In an automatic loom having a lay and a plurality of shiftingshuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having weft carriers of different kinds separately stored therein, means to move said magazine vertically to position a weft carrier of a selected kind oppos te a shuttle about to become active, and means to thereafter move said weft carrier vertically with said shuttle as the latter moves to running position.

6. In an automatic loom having a lay and a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having weft carriers of different kinds separately stored therein, means to move said magazine vertically toposition aweftcarrier of a vselected kind opposite a shuttle about to become active, means to thereafter move said weft carrier vertically with said shuttle as'the latter moves to running position, and means to transfer said weft carrier as the shuttle is being moved vertically.

7. In an automatic pick and pick loom having a lay and a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at both ends thereof, in combination, a magazine having weft carriers of different kinds separately stored therein, means to move said magazine vertically to position a weft carrier :of a selected kind opposite a shuttle about to become active, means to align a transferrer with said weft carrier and shuttle, and means to maintain operative relat'ons between said transferrer, said weft carrier,and said-shuttle, as said shuttle is shifted to running posit-ion.

8. In a pick and pick loom, having a plurality of vertically shifting shuttle boxes, at each side of the loom, a weftcarrier magaz 'ne having a plurality. of super osed compartments each having a rearwar discharge opening, and pattern-controlled means to raise or lower said magazine relative to the boxes at'the magazine side, of the loom to bring a selected discharge opening to delivery position with respect to a selected shuttle box. I

9. In a' pickand pick loom, having a plural ty ofvertically shifting shuttle boxes, at each side of the loom, a weft carrier magazine having a plurality of superposed compartments each having a rearward discharge opening, and pattern-controlled means to raise or lower said magazine relative to the boxes at the magazine side of the loom to bring'a selected discharge opening to delivery posit on with respect to aselected shuttle box and meansto thereafter move said magazine vertically with said boxes to maintain such relation as the boxes are moved. v

10. In a loom, a lay'having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof, a Weft carrier magazine having a plurality of compartments superposed in a s'ngle plane and each having'arearward discharge open- 7 ing, said magazine being adapted to contain and deliver -weft carriers of distinctive colors from said different compartments, means to move said magazine vertically in definite relation to the vertical movement of the shuttle boxes at the magazine end of the lay, and means to transfer a Weft carrier rearward from a selected compartment directly into the shuttle corresponding in weft color thereto.

' 11. In a loom, a magazine, a transterrer, means to move said magazine and transferrer in opposite directions, and means to move said magazine and transferrer in the same direction.

12. In a loom, a magazine, a transterrer, a s'ngle means to move said magazine and transferrer in opposite directions, and additional means to move said magazine and transferrer in the same direction.

13. In a loom, a magazine, a transferrer, means to move said magazine and transterrer in opposite directions, and means to move said magaz'ne and trans'terrer' in the same direction, said moving means including rack bars connected to said magazine and transferrer, pinions engaging said rack bars and selectively movable transversely of their axes by pattern-controlled means, an additional rack bar engaging said pnions, and pattern-controlled means for moving said latter rack bar.

14. In a loom, a magazine, a transterrer, means to move said magazine and transferrer in opposite directions, and means to move said magazine and transferrer in the same direction, said moving means including rack bars connected to said magazine and tranferrer, pinions engaging said rack bars and selectively movable transversely of their axes by pattern-controlled means, an additional rack bar engaging said pinions, and pattern-controlled means for moving said latter rack bar, said first-mentioned rack bars remaining fixed in position while said additional rack bar is moved.

15. In an automatic pick and pick loom, a movable weft detector, magazine and transferrer, pattern mechanism operative to move 1 aid detect-or, magazine and transferrer to operative relation with the shuttle about to become active, and pattern-controlled means to thereafter move said parts with said sl'mttle to running position.

16. In an automatic pick and pick loom, a vertically movable weft detector, magazine and transferror, pattern mechanism operative to move said detector, magazine and transterrcr vertically to operative relation with the shuttle about to become active, and pattern-controlled means to thereafter move said parts vertically with said shuttle to running position. I

17. In an automatic pick and pick loom, a movable weft detector, magazine and transferrer. pat-tern mechanism operative to move said detector, magazine and transferrer to operative relation with the shuttle about to become active, and pattern-controlled means to thereafter move said-parts with said shuttle to running position, said successive movements being separated by substantially one-halt a revolution of the loom crank a movable weft detector, magazine and transterrer, pattern mechanism operative to move said detector, magazine and transferrer to operative relation with the shuttle about to become active, and pattern-controlled means to thereafter move said parts with said shuttle to running position, said pattern mechanism being advanced to a new indicating position at each one-halt revolution of the loom crank shaft, and mechanism being provided to separately lock said pattern mechanism and said pattern-controlled means after each advance movement of either one.

20. In a loom, a transferrer having a re cessed member connect-ed thereto, anactuator intermittently reciprocated in said 'memher, and a Weft-controlled connecting element between said member and said actuator. r

21. In a loom, a transterrer having a recessed member connected thereto, an actuator intermittently reciprocated in said member, a connecting cross pin in saidmember, and weft-controlled means to move said pin into the path ofsaid actuator.

22. In a loom, a transferrer having a recessed member connected thereto, an actuator intermittently reciprocated in said member, a connecting cross pin in said member, and weft-controlled means to move said pin into the path of said actuator, said actuator having a projecting portion at the engaging end thereof and said cross pinhaving a head engaged by said projecting portion and held in operative relation thereby.

23. In a loom, a-frame, a casing fixed to said frame, a pair of slide bars vertically movable in said casing, a magazine supported by one slide bar, a transferrer supported by the other slide-bar, and means to actuate said bars to move said magazine and transferrer vertically.

24. In a loom, a frame, a'casing fixed to said frame, a pair of slide bars vertically movable in said casing, .a magazine supported by one slide bar, a transferrer supported by the other slide bar to move said 25. In a 100m, a frame, a casing fixed to i said frame, a pair of slide bars vertically movable 1n sald caslng, a magazine supported by one slide bar, a transferrer sup ported by the other slide bar, said means being under the control of regularly actuated pattern mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SAMUEL A. NELSON. 

